I deleted a lengthy response -- with the HST it was a no brainer.
Gear driven? I don't know how much the tractor is worth, but around here he'd pay $5-6K more for that tractor with HST. It's still pre-Tier 4 and will hold it's value (whatever that is now) going forward.
I kinda lucked into the HST accidentally--I was advised to get it and I'm glad I did. My main objective was a slow reverse at PTO speed (rear mounted snowblower), and tractordata says that L3240 has a reverse as slow as 0.9 mph which would have been plenty slow (My old tractor was 3.6-4 depending on who you asked--way too fast). I think that the GST would be fine for blowing snow in reverse.
The question is then "how much loader work". I was perfectly happy with the gear drive for loader work, and don't do enough loader work that I'll probably care too much either way. I love the HST, but if the price is that much better and I wasn't sure I'd be tempted to try the gear drive first, and if you really hate it.
How does $16k compare with the smaller options you were looking at? I personally wouldn't worry too much about not having a warranty--especially since you know the background.
Gear driven? I don't know how much the tractor is worth, but around here he'd pay $5-6K more for that tractor with HST. It's still pre-Tier 4 and will hold it's value (whatever that is now) going forward.
I kinda lucked into the HST accidentally--I was advised to get it and I'm glad I did. My main objective was a slow reverse at PTO speed (rear mounted snowblower), and tractordata says that L3240 has a reverse as slow as 0.9 mph which would have been plenty slow (My old tractor was 3.6-4 depending on who you asked--way too fast). I think that the GST would be fine for blowing snow in reverse.
The question is then "how much loader work". I was perfectly happy with the gear drive for loader work, and don't do enough loader work that I'll probably care too much either way. I love the HST, but if the price is that much better and I wasn't sure I'd be tempted to try the gear drive first, and if you really hate it.
How does $16k compare with the smaller options you were looking at? I personally wouldn't worry too much about not having a warranty--especially since you know the background.
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